Bulls' preseason injuries concern Deng

Core group's lack of time together on court could lead to slow start

Joakim Noah has made one appearance for a mere 19 minutes, 45 seconds this preseason and will miss at least two and possibly all three remaining games with a sore groin.

Jimmy Butler, the new starting shooting guard, has played just two games alongside Derrick Rose and is a game-time decision for Monday's contest against the Bucks with a bruised left knee. And Kirk Hinrich is almost certain to sit because of a concussion that sidelined him from practice for the second straight day Sunday.

On the flip side, the Bulls are 5-0 in exhibition games and return the core players who led them to the NBA's best regular-season record in two of the previous three seasons.

So with the high-profile opener just eight days away in Miami, which is it: Have the Bulls developed enough cohesiveness and chemistry to navigate the difficult early schedule? Or with yet another disjointed training camp thanks to nagging injuries, is there cause for concern?

"I shouldn't be worried, but I am," said Luol Deng, the Bulls' longest-tenured player. "Because of what we're after and how we feel about our chances this season, the quicker we have everybody back the better."

That's a nod to the legitimate championship chances the Bulls believe they possess. The return of Rose to dominant form — he has scored 54 points in his last 53:27 — can help the Bulls overcome plenty of ills.

But the Bulls know they need to stay healthy to reach their ultimate goal, a path that has eluded them in the three playoff runs under coach Tom Thibodeau.

"It is only preseason, but it's important to get everybody playing," Deng said. "We practice hard, but a game atmosphere with timeouts and everything, we need a rhythm and a good idea of who is playing with who.

"Jimmy hasn't played with Jo much. Jo hasn't played much with Jimmy. Mike (Dunleavy) hasn't played much with Jo. Jimmy and Mike haven't played with each other. There are a lot of lineups we need to get acclimated. At least we're doing a good job of doing the little stuff and putting in the extra work."

That was evident Sunday with a 2-hour, 15-minute practice and most players staying well after. In fact, Dunleavy offered a humorous observation on the Bulls' practice intensity and professionalism.

"I've had a hard time finding a basket to shoot at after practice because there are so many guys getting extra work in," Dunleavy said. "I've never been in a situation like that. It's a good thing."

As a veteran of four teams, Dunleavy has experience adjusting to new systems and teammates. He downplayed the disjointed nature of camp.

"It's really not a lot of new guys. It's basically me and a couple of rooks," he said, referring to Tony Snell and Erik Murphy. "So I think the chemistry is pretty good. We have a lot of things we can get better at and build and grow. But for five preseason games, I feel we've played well together."

Asked if he's concerned that the regular-season lineup has yet to take the court in an exhibition game, Thibodeau dusted off a favorite Thibs-ism.

"Next man up," he said. "We've got more than enough, whoever is ready."

Pretty soon, that theory could be tested in games that count.

Layups: Butler, who has missed two straight games, practiced fully with contact on Sunday. ... Dunleavy, an 11-year veteran, on Thibodeau's intensity: "It's higher than anything I've played at at the NBA level. It's very similar to going back to college and Coach (Mike Krzyzewski). You have to get your rest and you have to bring it physically and mentally every day. It's a lot of hard work. I'm on board with that. Hopefully in the end, there will be a reward."